Multiple valved tubving hangers



Dec. 31, 1963 1 L. RECTOR MULTIPLE vALvED TUBING HANGERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 8, 1959 INV EN TOR ATTORNEY f do. o 6 Imm f .h /m r v m v e M 0 /S S N n um, s, uw .ww www bo uw w www@ bv uw n mh. V m A m m. QW, m wb mh wm. uw. W mm Nb Wm, N@ .WN M. k\ N W Nh 1T NN N\ IT 5 mm m. E N QN QM. Mum. mw Q Q S vm MN S Dec. 31, 1963 L. l.. RECTOR 3,115,934

MULTIPLE vALvED TUBING HANGERS Filed sept. a, 1959 s sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR 0a/ence L /Pecor BY MS ATTORNEY Dec. 31, 1963 L. L. RECTOR 3,115,934

MULTIPLE VALVED TUBING HANGERS Filed Sept. 8, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Laure/76e L Redor BY M2M' ATTORNEY Dec. 31, 1963 L. L. RECTOR 3,115,934

^ MULTIPLE vALvED TUBING HANGERS Filed Sept.k 8, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR l dure/7c@ /Pecof BY M ATTORNEY Dec. 31, 1963 L. L. RECTOR 3,115,934

MULTIPLE VALVED TUBING HANGERS Filed Sept. 8, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 BY mm ATTORNEY United States Patent C) 3,115,934 MULTIPLE VALVED TUBENG HANGERS Laurence L. Rector, Fort Worth, Tex., assigner to Rector Well Equipment Company, Inc., Fort Worth, Tex. Filed Sept. 8, 1959, Ser. No. 838,536 Claims. (Cl. 166-75) This invention is concerned with tubing hangers for suspending tubing in oil or gas wells and is particularly concerned with tubing hangers for suspending a multiplicity of tubing strings in a well, each such hanger having a valve therein operable from outside the tubing head to control the flow of fluid through the respective hangers.

In my co-pending application, Serial No. 827,034, entitled Valved Tubing Hanger, filed July 14, 1959, now Patent No. 3,043,371, there was disclosed a tubing hanger suspended in a tubing head, having a valve therein operable from outside the tubing head, and the advantages of such a construction and arrangement were set forth in the said co-pending application. These advantages are briefly summarized as follows:

In the event a surface line or connection is broken or a fire occurs above the well head, the production fluid may be quickly shut off in order to prevent a serious blowout or extinguish such fire. Such a valved tubing head is also useful in well completion procedure wherein the flow conduits may be closed while equipment is being run into the well while packers are being set therein, and while installing well head equipment.

The disclosure in said co-pending application was concerned particularly with a single completion. In making multiple completions, wherein a plurality of tubing hangers are suspended in the tubing head, there are a number of problems presented in providing such plurality of hangers with valves therein operable from outside the tubing head.

Not only is it necessary to position the respective hangers vertically and rotationally, to cause the engaging portions of the valve body in the hanger to coincide with the engaging end of the operating stem, but it is necessary to provide means to hold the respective valved tubing hangers against lateral and rotational movement when one or more of such tubing hangers are removed from the tubing head.

Heretofore when tubing hangers have been made in sector shape, as shown in Allen Patent 2,794,505, it was necessary to provide complementary vertical shoulders in the tubing head and on the hanger bodies to hold the respective hanger bodies against lateral and rotational movement when one of the hanger bodies was removed from the tubing head. Such shoulder means not only increased the cost of manufacture, but were not entirely satisfactory in that they did not firmly secure the hangers in the tubing head, particularly when thhe weight imposed lupon the tubing head was increased beyond a certain amount. In other words, there was no positive engagement lof the `hanger bodies to prevent lateral and rotational movement.

The invention disclosed and claimed herein not only provides multiple, valved hangers .arranged to be positioned in the tubing head, but eliminates shoulders within the head and on the hangers to prevent lateral and rotational movement thereof. The operating pin for the valve in the respective hangers is provided with a disengageable interlocking connection with the valve body so as to hold and maintain each hanger against lateral and rotational movement when one or more of the other hangers are removed from the head.

Such interlocking -arrangement between the operating stem and valve body also provides for the rotation or slidying operation of the valve body and permits the operating stem to be disconnected from the valve body for removal .of the hanger or hangers from the tubing head.

It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide multiple hangers to be positioned in a tubing head, each having a valve therein operable from outside the tubing head.

It is another object of this invention to provide such multiple tubing hangers which are complementary in shape.

Still another object of the invention is to provide complementary multiple hanger bodies, each having a valve therein, and an operating stem therefor which not only provides for the operation of the valve body but interlocks with the valve body in such a manner as to maintain the hanger bodies against rotational and lateral movement in the event of removal of one or more of the hanger bodies from the tubing head.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such multiple valved tubing hangers which are accurately positioned vertically and rotationally in the tubing head so that all operating stems for the valves therein are in position to make connection with the engaging portion of the valve body therein.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an operating stern for such multiple valved tubing hangers, each of which operating stems may be positively moved and maintained inwardly against pressure in the well and held therein, and is limited in its inward and outward movement, and in its rotational movement.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such an operating stem in which means is provided for indicating when the valve is in full-open and full-closed position, and to indicate the position to which the valve stem may be withdrawn and disengaged from the valve body.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a multiple valved tubing hanger assembly in which the hanger bodies are positioned one over the other in interengaged position, and means is provided in conjunction therewith for positioning each hanger vertically and rotationally within its respective hanger opening.

A further object is to provide a disengageable interlocking connection between an operating stem extending through the wall of the tubing head and a valve body in a hanger disposed in the head, thereby permitting the operating stem to be disengaged from the valve body to permit withdrawal of the hanger from the head.

An additional object of the invention is Ito provide such a disengaigeably interlocked connection between the operating `stem and the valve body whereby such a stem may be employed to operate a rotatable plug valve or to move inwardly and outwardly a gate valve disposed in the valve body.

In the drawings:

FIGURE I is a cross-sectional, elevational view showing a dual valved hanger assembly positioned in a tubing head, with the koperating stem for the valves engaged with the valve bodies;

FIGURE II is an exploded perspective, sectionalized view of the valve operating stern assembly, and the valve body, showing the disengageable connection ltherebetween;

FIGURE IlI is a transverse sectional view taken on the line Ill-lll of FIGURE I;

FIGURE IV is a modified form of multiple valved tubing hanger assembly, showing three complementary han-gers positioned within a tubing head, for a triple completion;

FIGURE V is a cross-sectional, elevational 'View of modified form of multiple valved hanger assembly showing one valved hanger body positioned over the other in interengaged relationship;

FIGURE VI is a cross-sectional, elevational View of a modified form showing the loperating stem disengageably interlocked with a gate valve body in a tubing head; and

FIGURE VII is an expanded view in perspective and partially sectionalized, showing the operating stem and the interlocking connection between the stem and the gate valve body shown in FIGURE VI.

-Numeral references are employed to designate the various par-ts shown in lthe drawings, and like numerals indicate like parts throughout the various figures of the drawings.

The numeral 1 indicates a conventional casing head, to the upper end of which is secured a tubing head 2, by means of bolts 4, passing through the anges 3 and 1a of the tubing head and casing head, respectively.

A seal is provided between lthe faces of the casing head 1 and tubing head 2 by a metal seal ring 5.

The tubing head 2 has an axial bore 6 therethrough in the lower end of which is provided an annular, upwardly facing square shoulder 7, on which the tubing hangers 8 are suspended.

Each tubing hanger S has an axial bore 9 therethrough, with threads lil in the lower end thereof to which may be threadedly engaged sections of production tubing 11 and 11a, extending into the well.

Resilient seal rings 12 are provided about the hanger bodies 8, in appropriate annul-ar grooves formed thereabout. Said -seal rings 12 provide a seal between the hanger bodies 8 and the bore 6, and between the respective inner faces 22 of the hanger bodies 3.

An adapter i'lange 13 is mounted above the tubing head 2, and a seal is provided between the respective faces of the tubing head 2 and adapter flange 13 by a metal seal ring 14.

A conventional well head 1S is mounted above the adapter iiange 13, and is sealed thereto by a metal seal ring 16.

The tubing head 2, adapter iiange 13 and well head 15 Y are secured together by means of bolts 17 passing therethrough.

The flange 13 is provided with side-by-side circular passages 18 extending therethrough in which passages are inserted the neck portions 19 of the hangers `8. The neck portions 19 are sealed in the passages 18 by means of resilient ring seals 26, extending thereabout.

The hanger bodies 8 are sector-shaped, as shown in IFIGURE III, the said hanger bodies being substantially semi-circular in shape, and each having a rounded surface 21 thereon substantially conformed to the shape of the bore v6 of the tubing head 2, and each hanger body has a substantially iiat side 22 which sides are in coinciding relationship when the hanger bodies are positioned in the tubing head as shown in FIGURE III.

Sections of pipe 24 and 2S are threadedly engaged in t-he necks 19, said pipes being arranged to be attached to surface connections (not shown).

Each hanger body is also provided with a vertical guide slot 26 formed in the outer surface thereof in which the inner ends of the retractable guide pins 27 V(see FIG. III) are arranged to slidably enter, in order to position tubing hangers 8 in the correct circumferential position, to thereby align same with the surface connections, and also to align same circumferentially so that the engaging end of the operating stems 38 will coincide with, and connect to, the connecting portions 43 of the valve members 34, within the tubing hangers, as hereinafter described.

Each guide pin 27 is threadedly engaged through the wall of the tubing head 8 `and is sealed thereabout in the passage through which it extends, by a resilient seal ring 28, which is expanded and compressed by a gland nut 29 .fthreadedly engaged in the outer end of the passage through which the guide pin extends.

A hold-down slot 36 is formed about each rounded side 21 of the hangers 8, said hold-down slots being arranged to receive the inner ends of hold-down pins 31, threadedly engaged through the wall of tubing head 2, to

i prevent the upward movement of the hanger bodies 8 by reason of pressure lfrom below, when the adapte-r ange 13 is removed therefrom.

Each hold-down pin 31 is sealed thereabout by means Vof a resilient seal 32 positioned in the passage through which same extends, said seal ring 32 being compressed and expanded by la gland nut 33, threaded in the outer end of the passage through which the hold-down pin 31 extends.

A rotatable valve member 34 is positioned in each of the passages 9 of the hanger bodies 3, each such valve member having a passage 35 therethrough, which, when rota-'ted in alignment with the passages 9, permits the iiow of iiuid through the hanger bodies, but when rotated therefrom will close said passages 9, and prevent the iiow of iiuid thor-ugh the hangers 8. Each valve body 34 is rotatable on a bearing extension 36 extending into a coinciding socket in the wall of the hanger body 8.

The valve bodies 34 are held in the passages 9 by means of follower nuts 37, threaded into passages extending through the wall of lthe hanger body.

A-n operating stem 33 is provided for each of the valve bodies 34, said operating stems 33 being identical in construction and operation.

Each operating stem 38 is slidably and rotatably disposed in a substantially cylindrical housing 39. The housing 39 has an enlarged annular flange 40 on the inner end thereof which may be attached to the outer wall of the tubing head 2 by means of machine screws di, and is sealed thereto by means of resilient octagonal seal rings 42.

Each valve member 34 has an engaging extension 43 thereon, the said engaging extension 43 having a bore 44 therein, provided with transverse aligned slots 45 and 46, which intersect aligned, parti-peripheral slots 47. The operating stem 38 has a 'reduced portion 48 on the end thereof, which is arranged to enter the bore 44. Op- .positely disposed pins 49 extend outwardly from the reduced end 4S, which pins are arranged lto enter the transverse slots 45 and 46, as the reduced portion 4S moves into the bore 44.

The pins 49 are arranged to be pushed inwardly into alignment with the parti-peripheral slots 47, so that when the stem 38 is rotated in either direction, the pins 49 enter the slots 47 and engage with the ends thereof to cause the rotation of the valve body 34 to closed position in one direction of rotation and to open position in the other direction of rotation.

The valve body 34 is arranged to be lubricated through a lubrication itting 50l threadedly engaged in the inner end of the bore 44, which lubrication `iitting 50 communicates with a channel 5-1 extending through the valve body 34. The lubrication fitting S0 is arranged to enter the outer end of a lubrication channel 52 extending through the stem 38. Lubrication is supplied to the channel 52 through a lubrication fitting 113 threadedly engaged in the outer end of the stem 38.

Co-engaging shoulders 53- and 53a are provided in the housing 39 and on the stem r38, to limit the inward movement of the stem 33. Likewise, co-engaging shoulders 54 and 54a are provided on the stem 38 and on the adjustable threaded ring 5S to limit the outward movement of the stern 33 in the housing 39.

The stem 38 is moved inwardly and outwardly by a drive nut 57, threadedly engaged in the outer end of the housing 39. Said drive nut 57 moves the stem 38 inwardly, as the drive nut is rotated clockwise to threadedly move same inwardly of the housing 39 by virtue of the engagement of the shoulder 56, on the stem 38, with the shoulder 56a in the bore of the drive nut 57.

The drive nut 57 `is engaged with a snap ring 58 disposed in a recess 53a on the surface of the stem 38 so that when the drive nut 57 is moved outwardly by counter-clockwise rotation with `relation to the housing 39, the stem 38 is moved outwardly therewith. ,z

A handle 59 is attached to -the outer end of the stem 3S and is held thereon by a nut 6@ threadedly engaged on the stem.

An arm or extension 61 is provided on the operating handle 59, the outer end of which is arranged to enter the slot 62 in the outer face of the housing 39'. The arm 61 is arranged to engage with the ends 62a and 62h of the slot 62 to limit the rotation of the operating stem 38.

When the arm 61 engages the end `62a of the slot 62, the valve body `34 is in full-open position, and when it engages the other end 62b of the slot 62 the valve body is in full-closed position.

A recess 65 is formed in the end of the arm 61 in which is disposed a spring 64. A ball 613 is disposed in the outer end of the recess 65, which is slightly larger in diameter than the open end of the recess 65 so that the ball extends beyond the end of the arm 61 but cannot escape from the bore of recess 65. The ball 63 is urged outwardly of the slot 65 by' the spring y64, so that the ball 6-3 is resiliently mounted in the bore 65 in position so that it cannot escape from the outer end of the bore but one side thereof normally extends outwardly thereof.

A pair `of spaced spherical sockets 66 and 67 are provided on the inner wall of the slot 62, the said sockets 66 and 67 being arranged to receive the ball 63. The sockets y66 and 67, in cooperation with the spring-urged ball 63, are for the purpose of providing an indication of the rotative positioning of the shaft 38 with relation to `fthe engaging extension 43 on valve member 34 so that the engaging pins 49* may be withdrawn from fthe bore 44 of the extension 43 through the transverse slots 45 and 46.

When the stem 38 is rotated to open or close the Valve member 34, the handle 59 is rotated until the arm 61 engages the spaced shoulders provided by the ends 62a or 62b of slot 62, as the case may be. This indicates that the valve body 34 is in full-open or full-closed position. Prior to withdrawal of the stem 3S from engagement with the valve member 34, the handle 59 is counterrotated, until the spring urged lball 63 enters the sockets 66 or 67, as the case may be. 'Ihe operator then knows that the pins 49 are in alignment with the traverse slots 45 and 46 so that the operating stern 38 can be withdrawn from the bore 44 of the valve body extension 43.

Suitable seals 68 and `69 are provided between the outer surface of operating stem 38 and the bore wall of the housing 39.

A lubrication fitting 113 is threadedly engaged in the end of the operating stem 38 in communication with the lubrication passage 52 through said stem. Lubrication may be supplied to the Ivalve member 34 through fitting 1-113, passage 52, fitting 58l and passage 51.

The operation and function of the form of the dual hanger assembly hereinbefore described is as follows:

The tubing string 11 and 11a are run into `the well in the usual manner. After the first tubing string has been run, one of the hanger bodies 8` is attached to the upper end of such tubing string and lowered in the bore 6 until the lower end of the hanger body engages the shoulder 7. As the hanger body is lowered, it is positioned and guided in the proper circumferential position by guide pin 27 slidably extending into the slot 26.

Since the hanger body 8 is positioned on a square shoulder 7, which `is in `a pre-determined position, and since the hanger body is positioned in a pre-determined circumferential position with relation to the bore 6 by the guide pin 27 and slot 26, the engaging end of Ithe stem 38 is in proper vertical and circumferential position to engage the extension 43 of the valve member 34.

P-referably the valve member 34 is in closed position While the hanger body 8- is being positioned in the tubing head. To open the valve the stem 38 is moved inwardly to engage with the extension 43 by rotating the drive -nut 57 clockwise. At such time the ball 63 is in the appropriate socket 66 so that the pins `49 are in alignment with the transverse slots 45 and 46 in extension 43. When the stem 318 has been moved inwardly to a position where the shoulders `53l and 53a are engaged, the valve stern 38 may be rotated by the handle 59 clockwise to place the valve body 34 in open position. The pins 49 move into and engage the ends of the parti-peripheral slots 47 as the stern 38 is rotated to cause the turning of the valve body 34 in the direction of rotation of the stem 38.

As explained hereinbefore, the stem 38 may be placed in position for disengagement from the valve body 34, by rotating the handle 59* until the ball 63 enters the appropriate socket 66 or 67, and rotating the drive nut 57 counter-clockwise to cause the outward movement of the stem 38 by virtue of the engagement of the drive nut 57 with the ring 58.

It will be noted that the stem 38, when engaged with the extension 43 of valve body 34, holds the hanger body 8 against the wall of the tubing head bore 6, so that when the second hanger body 8 `is run into position in the bore 6, the first hanger body so run will not interfere with the entry of the second hanger body into the bore 6. Furthermore, when one of the hanger bodies 8 is withdrawn from the bore 6 for repair or work-over of the well, the stern 318 will hold the remaining hanger body against lateral and rotational movement in bore 6 so as not to interfere Iwith running servicing tools into the well, and the running of the tubing thereinto.

The drive nut 57 permits the stern 38 to be moved inwardly against pressure, and such drive nut, in conjunction with the interlocked engagement between the stem and valve body, as described, holds the stern inwardly against pressure.

Three or more complementary valived hangers may be vsuspended in a tubing head bore, each having a valve therein of the type hereinbefore described, and a retractable operating stem, as described.

By way of illustration, there is shown in FIGURE IV three rsector-shaped hangers 70, each having a rounded side 71 conformed to the shape of the tubing head bore, and flat coinciding sides 72 so as to substantially `fill the Itubing head bore when all are disposed therein.

Each hanger body 70 has formed in `the outer surface thereof a vertical guide slot 73, similar to guide slot 26, which is arranged to slidably receive the guide pins 27 for the purpose hereinbefore described.

The operation and function of the form shown in FIG- URE lIV is exactly like that shown in the form shown in FIGURES I-III, the only difference being in the particular shape and number of the sector-shaped hangers.

AIt will be understood that four of such valved hanger bodies could also be provided in suitable complementary sector shapes to fill the tubing head bore 6, each such body having a valve therein, operable in the same manner as was described with relation to the dual hanger form shown in FIGURES I-III.

Another modified lform of ymultiple valved tubing hanger device is shown in FIGURE V. In such form a lower ltubing head 75 is attached to the icasing head 76 by bolts 77. A metal ring sea-l 78 is provided between the opposing faces of the tubing head 75 and casing head 76.

An upwardly facing square shoulder 79 is provided in the bore of the tubing head 75 on which is suspended a hanger body S0. The hanger body 80 has a passage 81 therethrough in which is disposed a valve body 82 of the same construction and operation as valve body 34, said valve body being held in the -bore 81 by a threaded follower ring 83. The stern assembly 84 is the same in construction as that described in connection with FIGURES I-I'II, and the engagement thereof with the valve body 82, and the operation thereof, is Ithe same as that heretofore described.

A section of production tubing 8'5 is threadedly engaged in the lower end of the bore :81.

An enlarged bore `86 is also provided through the hanger body Sti through which extends a section of production tubing 87, which is threadedly engaged in the lower end 7 of the bore 95 of .the upper hanger body `94. Preferably the bore S6 is large enough to accommodate enlargements, such gas lift valve mandrels, on the tubing string 87.

A vertical guide slot S8, similar to guide slot 26, is formed in the outer surface of the lower hanger body Si), which, in cooperation with guide pin 89, guides and positions the hanger body 3l) circumferentially in the bore of the tubing hanger 75 so that the engaging end of the valve stern 318 is in position to engage the engaging extension or" valve body S2. The guide slot 88 and guide pin 39, in conjunction with the guide slot 19t) andguide pin 191 in the upper hanger body 94, also aligns the respective bores of the hangers 80 and 94 in proper coinciding relationship, and in proper relationship to surface valves and connections.

A peripheral hold-down groove 90 is provided in the outer surface of the hanger body 89, and cooperates with the hold-down pins 91 to hold the hanger body 80 down against upwardly acting pressure in the well.

A neck 92 is provided on the hanger body 80, which slidably enters the enlarged portion 112 of bore 99 of upper hanger 94. The resilient seal ring 93 about the neck 92 provides a seal between the inner surface of the enlarged bore 112 and the outer surface of the neck 92.

An upper hanger body 94 is suspended in the bore 1.14a of the upper tubing head 114 on an annular, upwardly facing square shoulder 111.

The passage 95 through hanger body 94 has a valve body 96 rotatably disposed therein of the same construc- .tion as valve body 34. Said valve body 96 is retained in the bore 95 by means of a threaded follower ring 97.

The operating stem assembly 98 is the same as that described in connection with FIGURES iI-Ill, and engages the valve member 96 in the same manner as was described in connection therewith.

Another passage 99 is provided through the upper hanger body 94, and the tubing sections 41137 are threadedly engaged in the upper ends of the passages 9'5 and 99, such tubing sections being provided for attachment to surface ilow control equipment (not shown).

A vertical guide slot 100 is provided in the outer surface of the hanger body 94, which cooperates with a guide pin 101 in the same rnanner as was described with reference to guide pin 27 and slot 26 in the form shown in FIGURES I-III.

A peripheral hold-down groove 192 is provided in the surface of the upper hanger body 94, which cooperates with the hold-down pin 193 to hold the body 94 down against upwardly acting pressure, in the manner hereinbefore described, in connection with FIGS. I-III.

An adapter flange 1114 is positioned over the upper tubing head 114 and sealed thereto by a suitable seal ring 10461.

`Side by side circular passages 165 are provided through the adapter flange 164, said passages being arranged to vsealingly receive the necks 166 on the hanger body 94. The well head S is attached above adapter flange 104 by suitable bolts passing therethrough and through the flange on the upper end of the upper tubing head 114. Seal rings 199 and 110 are provided between the adjoining faces of the adapter ange 104 and well head 168.

The operation of the modified hanger device shown in FIGURE V is as follows:

The tubing string is run into the Well and the hanger Si) is attached thereto in the manner shown. The upper tubing head 114 is then placed over the lower tubing head 75. The second string S7 is then run into the well through the passage 36. The upper hanger 114 is then attached to the second string 85 in the manner shown, and guided into place in the head 114. The neck 92 enters the enlarged bore 112 and is slidably sealed therein. The assembly is then completed by placing the adapter flange 1114 and well head 168 thereon.

The hanger bodies Si? and 94 are guided into place on the guide pins 89 and 161 in the manner hereinbefore described, and are positioned on the shoulders 79 and 111 to thereby align the hanger bodies 89 and 94 vertically and rotationally in the respective tubing heads so that the engaging end of the operating stems 33 will be in alignment with the engaging extensions of the valve bodies 82 and 96. The disengageable interlocked connection between stem 38 and valve bodies 82 and 96 is the same as that described in connection with FIGS. I-Ill.

The valves in the respective hangers Si) and 94 are operated in the same manner as that described in connection with FIGS. I-Ill. Such valve bodies 82 and 96 are arranged to be operated from exteriorly of the tubing heads and 114 and to control dow of uid through the aligned bores in such hangers. The improvements have been described in connection with rotatable plug valves. However, it will be understood that other types of valves, such as gate valves, could be employed with the same operating stem and disengageable connection arrangement as heretofore described.

Such an arrangement, employed with a gate valve, is shown in FIGS. Vl and VII wherein a tubing head 115 is attached to a casing head 116 by bolts 117.

A bore 118 extends through the tubing head 115, and positioned in the bore is a tubing hanger 119 which is suspended on the annular square shoulder i in the upper end of the bore 113. An annular hold-down groove 121 is provided about the hanger body 119 in which the hold-down pins 122 are positioned to hold the body 119 down aaginst upwardly acting pressure. A metal seal ring 123 is provided between the lower face of the adapter flange 124 and the upper face of the tubing head 115. A central bore 125 is provided through the hanger body 119 which bore 125 is intersected by a transverse bore 126.

Slideably disposed in the transverse bore 126 is a gate valve body 127. Flat sides 128 are provided on the body 127 to slideably coincide with the fiat surfaces 129 in the bore 126 to prevent rotation of the valve body 127. The valve body 127 is held in the bore 126 by a threaded follower ring 130. A passage 131 is provided through the valve body 127, which is arranged to register with the bore 125 when the valve body is in outward position, as shown in FIG. VI, to thereby open the valve to permit tlow of fluid through the hanger body 119. A bore 132 is provided in the end of the valve body 127. The bore 132 is intersected by transversely aligned slots 133 arranged to receive the pins 49 on the reduced end 48 of the stem 38. Aligned parti-peripheral slots 134 are provided interiorly of the bore 132, which intersect the slots 133. The parti-peripheral slots 134 are arranged to receive the pins 49 when they are pushed into the bore 132 along the slots 133 in position to come into alignment with the slots 134, and the stem 38 is rotated.

The passage 125 may be closed by the valve body 127 by pushing inwardly on the stem 38, thereby sliding the valve body 127 into the bore 126 so that the solid portion of the valve body 127 coincides with the passage 125.

The valve stem 38 may be disconnected from the valve body 127 by rotating the stem 38 to a position where the pins 49 are aligned with the slots 133, and withdrawing the reduced portion 48 of the stem 38 from the bore 132. The stem 38 may be connected to the valve body 127 by aligning the pins 49 with the slots 133, pushing the stem inwardly to cause the pins 49 to enter the slots 134 to thereby become disengageably interlocked to the valve body 127.

The construction and operation of the stem assembly, and housing therefor, is the same as that which was described in connection with the form shown in FIGS. I-III.

It will be seen that I have provided improvements in valved tubing hangers wherein valves are provided in one or more tubing hangers, which valves are operable by a withdrawable stem insertable through the tubing head and disengageably interlocked with the valve body. Such interlocking arrangement not lonlypprovides for the positive engagement and actuation of the valve member, but provides a means for holding the hanger bodies in position against lateral and rotational movement when one of the hanger bodies is removed. Means is also provided for positioning the hanger bodies rotationally and vertically so that the operating stems are in alignment with the engaging portions of the valve members. Furthermore means is provided in connection with the operating stem to indicate when the valve member is in full-open or fullclosed position, and to further indicate when the operating stem is in position to be withdrawn from interlocked engagement with the valve member. The interlocking, bayonet joint connection between the operating stem and the extension on the valve member, described in connection with the various forms shown in the drawings, is usable with either plug Valve members or gate valve members.

it will be understood that other and further structures, and modifications of structures, may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a body having an axial bore therethrough; a plurality of hanger members suspended in said bore having parallel ow passages therethrough; a valve member disposed in each low passage; an engaging extension on each valve member extending through the wall of the hanger in which it is positioned; an axial recess in the extension; aligned transverse slots in said extension intersecting the recess; peripheral slots in the extension intersecting the recess and the transverse slots; an operating item slidably extending through the wall of the body, the end of said stem being arranged to enter the recess; oppositely disposed locking elements on the end of the stem arranged to enter the transverse slots, and being rotatable into the peripheral slots, to thereby disengageably lock the stem to the valve member.

2. The combination called for in claim l wherein one hanger member is disposed over the other hanger member.

3. In a device of the class described, a body having an axial bore therethrough; a plurality of hanger members suspended in said bore having parallel flow passages therethrough; a valve member disposed in each flow passage; an operating extension on each valve member extending through the wall of the hanger; an axial recess in the extension; transverse aligned slots in said extension intersecting the recess; peripheral slots in the extension intersecting the recess and the transverse slots; an operating stem slidably extending through the wall of the body, the end of said stem being arranged to enter the recess; oppositely disposed locking elements on the end of the stem, arranged to enter the transverse slots, and being rotatable into the peripheral slots, to thereby disengageably lock the stem to the valve member; a housing attached to the outer side of the body through which the stem extends; a slot on the outer end face of said housing; an operating handle attached to the outer end of the stem; an arm on the handle extending into the slot and arranged to engage opposite ends of the slot to indicate the full-open and full-closed position of the valve member; a spring-urged member carried by the Outer end of the arm arranged to slide along the inner face of the slot as the handle is rotated; and spaced recesses formed on the inner face of the slot arranged to receive the springurged member, to indicate when the locking elements are in position to be Withdrawn from and be inserted into the transverse slots.

4. In a device of the class described, a body having an axial bore therethrough; at least one hanger member suspended in said bore having a ow passage therethrough; a valve member disposed in said flow passage; an engaging extension on said valve member extending through the wall of the hanger; an axial recess in the extension; aligned transverse slots in said extension intersecting the recess; peripheral slots in the extension intersectingthe recess and the transverse slots; an operating stem slidably extending through the wall of the body, the end of said stem being arranged to enter the recess; oppositely disposed locking elements on the end of the stem, arranged to enter the transverse slots, and being rotatable into the peripheral slots to thereby disengageably lock the stem to the valve member.

5i In a device of the class described, a body having an axial bore therethrough; an annular shoulder in the bore, a plurality of complementary shaped pipe hangers positionable in the bore to substantially till same, each pipe hanger having a passage therethrough; lcoinciding shoulders on the outer surfaces of the pipe hangers arranged to be positioned on the shoulder in the bore; a valve member in each passage, arranged to control the ow of Huid therethrough; a stem engaging portion extending from each Valve member through the wall of the pipe hanger in which it is disposed; an operating stem extendable through the wall of the body engageable with the stem engaging portion of each Valve member and operable from outside the body to operate the valve members; a plurality of guide members extendable inwardly of the bore; a vertical slot in the outer surface of each hanger slidable over one of said guide members; and means for disengageably interlocking the stems with the stem engaging portions of the respective valve members whereby the stems positively retain the remaining hangers against the wall of the bore against lateral or rotational movement when one or more of the hangers are removed from the bore.

6. The combination called for in claim 5 wherein the shoulders in the bore and on the pipe hangers are square.

7. The combination called for in claim 5 with the addition of means to limit inward movement of the stem; means to limit outward movement of the stem; and means to limit rotational movement of the stem.

8. In a device of the class described, a body having an axial bore therethrough; at least one tubular member suspended in said bore having a ow passage therethrough; a valve member disposed in said ow passage; an engaging extension on said valve member extending through the wall of the tubular member; an axial recess in the extension; aligned transverse slots in said extension intersecting the recess; peripheral slots in the extension intersecting the recess and the transverse slots; an operating stem slidably extending through the wall of the body, the end of said stem being arranged to enter the recess; oppositely disposed locking elements on the end of the stem, arranged to enter the transverse slots, and being rotatable into the peripheral slots to thereby disengageably lock the stern to the valve member; a housing attached to the outer side of the body through which the stem extends; spaced shoulders on the outer end face of said housing; an operating handle attached to the outer end of the stem; an arm on the handle arranged to engage the spaced shoulders to indicate the full open and full closed position of the valve member.

9. The combination called for in claim 8 with the addition of, a spring urged member carried by the outer end of the arm arranged to slide along the outer end face of the housing between the spaced shoulders as the handle is rotated; and spaced recesses formed on the outer end face of the housing arranged to receive the spring urged member, to indicate when the locking elements are in position to be withdrawn from, and be inserted into, the transverse slots.

10. In a device of the class described, a body having an axial bore therethrough; at least one tubular member suspended in said bore, said tubular member having a flow passage therethrough; a valve member disposed in said flow passage; an engaging extension on said valve member extending through the wall of the tubular member; an operating stem slidably extending through the Wall of the body, and means engageable between the ystern and the extension to disengageably interlock the ex- References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 402,132 Berry Apr. 3o, 1889 12 A Colin July 19, 1904 Rector Sept. 7, 1937 Humason Mar. 30, 1954 Rector May 24, 1955 Allen June 4, 1957 Wallace Nov. 11, 1958 Rhodes May 5, 1959 Allaire Apr. 26, 1960 Allen et al June 7, 1960 Rector July l0, 1962 UNITED STATES PATENT oEEICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent Noov 3V11511934 December 3L, 1963 Laurence L Rector It s hereby certified that error' appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that J@he said Letters Patent should read as Signed and sealed this 5th dayv of May l94 ERNEST' Wo SWIDER Attesting Officer EDWARD Ju BRENNER Commissioner of Patents 

1. IN A DEVICE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, A BODY HAVING AN AXIAL BORE THERETHROUGH; A PLURALITY OF HANGER MEMBERS SUSPENDED IN SAID BORE HAVING PARALLEL FLOW PASSAGES THERETHROUGH; A VALVE MEMBER DISPOSED IN EACH FLOW PASSAGE; AN ENGAGING EXTENSION ON EACH VALVE MEMBER EXTENDING THROUGH THE WALL OF THE HANGER IN WHICH IT IS POSITIONED; AN AXIAL RECESS IN THE EXTENSION; ALIGNED TRANSVERSE SLOTS IN SAID EXTENSION INTERSECTING THE RECESS; PERIPHERAL SLOTS IN THE EXTENSION INTERSECTING THE RECESS AND THE TRANSVERSE SLOTS; AN OPERATING ITEM SLIDABLY EXTENDING THROUGH THE WALL OF THE BODY, THE END OF SAID STEM BEING ARRANGED TO ENTER THE RECESS; OPPOSITELY DISPOSED LOCKING ELEMENTS ON THE END OF THE STEM ARRANGED TO ENTER THE TRANSVERSE SLOTS, AND BEING ROTATABLE INTO THE PERIPHERAL SLOTS, TO THEREBY DISENGAGEABLY LOCK THE STEM TO THE VALVE MEMBER. 